The point of the silicon plug is to act as an inflation bladder ?

As i understand it ; you put the silicon plug into the mold , to press the layup to the mold wall ?

subscribed, great info here.

Hi, i am quite new to rc model building. Recently I joined a team of UAV makers where I am taking part it fuselage building. But unfortunately I know nothing about fiberglass oulding which will be required. Can anyone help me by leading me to resources where I can learn step by step with pictorial teaching? Thanks

B-1 bob, step by step molding videos on you tube. You may have to search a while to find a video on one were he starts a plug, but when you do you will be glad you waited.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hornitpi.../3/gvRHa2lcve4

http://www.b1modelproject.com/

I have a general question for all you fabricators out there:

I have a cowl that is a bit ugly and worn and I wanted a new one. I am beginning to take more of an interest in fabrication and was considering molding my existing cowl and making a new one Vs. buying one new/direct for $30

In regards to what kind of expectations I should have, what would one expect to spend on materials to mold and fabricate a new cowl? How much time should I expect to spend (considering it may take me several tries before I am satisfied)?


Yes, there is the immediate gratification of just buying the cowl direct and installing it; but I think this could be a nice learning experience for me to learn a few new building techniques.

The plane I have been referring to is a Precision Aerobatics Addiction-X that I affectionately refer to as "Burned Retina" 501 LEDs installed internally+ Solid white covering

It'll take about three times more materials than you expect, and about 10 times longer!

It depends on how much stuff you have lying around. Do you have any composite materials already? Things like wax, pva, cabosil etc cost peanuts per part as they last forever, but when you first get into it, they can easily cost many times the cowl...

Thanks Odysis, I have nothing and am starting from scratch. What would you consider to be the items I need to have on my shopping list?

Thanks!

Plug: Something to carve from (foam/MDF), or the original cowl.
2 pack paint. I get mine from the local car paint joint. 1 pack doesn't release well, or at all...
Polish
Wax - silicone free. Get it from your composite store
PVA. Not the glue, the mould release. Again, composite store.

Mould: Surface coat. Either buy this, or make it. Adam has a great recipe, from memory resin, west 403 filler and carbon dust.
Carbon tow for the corners and to strengthen the mould
Light glass. I use 3/4oz, but you can get away with heavier. Enough for 1 layer
Heavy glass. 4oz, 6oz, something like that. Enough for about 10x more than the part will be

Part: Glass, resin. You should have them left over from the mould.

Other things you'll probably find useful: Microballoons, gloves, cabosil, gloves, patience, gloves. Have a read of Adam's excellent moulding threads. You don't need to worry about the recent inflation bladder work, but the general idea is always the same. You'll notice a pattern in everyone's threads - follow that and you can't go too far wrong!

Good luck - it's addictive

Thanks Ody!